Farewell to England's greatest goalie: 1966 World Cup hero Gordon Banks dies aged 81 after battle with cancer - as his former team-mate Sir Geoff Hurst leads tributes from world of football

  • England's 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81 after losing his battle with cancer
  • He is the fourth member of the victorious squad to pass away almost 53 years since they beat West Germany 
  • Banks' extraordinary save from Pele's header in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico is considered the greatest ever 
  • The legendary goalkeeper battled kidney cancer in recent years and passed away with his family at his side 
  • The England legend leaves behind his wife Ursula and the couple's three children Julia, Robert and Wendy 
  • Banks became a hero with Stoke but saw his career cut short in 1972 when he became blind in his left eye 
  • 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81 after losing his battle with kidney cancer. 
    The former Stoke and Leicester City goalkeeper was part of the famous England side whose heroics helped England lift the Jules Rimet trophy for the first and only time at Wembley 53 years ago this summer.
    He is also remembered for what is widely considered the greatest save of all time when he tipped a header from Pele over the bar at full stretch in a match with Brazil at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. 
    Pele himself famously yelled 'goal' as the ball left his forehead and stood open-mouthed as Banks somehow reached the ball as it went past him and flicked it away for a corner.
    Mr Banks, who was controversially never handed a knighthood and was forced to retire aged 34 after losing an eye in a car crash, endured several battles with kidney cancer and in recent months had been undergoing gruelling spells of chemotherapy. 
    Banks passed away with family at his side after his health deteriorated significantly in recent weeks and he is survived by his wife Ursula, who he met on national service in Germany in 1955, and their three children Julia, Robert and Wendy.  
    He is the fourth member of the 1966 squad to die and his family said in a statement today: 'It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight. We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him'. 
    England's 1966 hero Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the final against West Germany, said today: 'Very sad to hear the news that Gordon has died. One of the very greatest. Thinking especially of Ursula, Julia, Wendy and Robert. Sad for football, Stoke City and for England fans. Will be very sadly missed'.  
    Bobby Charlton, who was part of the team alongside Banks that won the World Cup in 1966, said: 'I was proud to call him a team-mate. Obviously we shared that great day in 1966 but it was more than that. Even though I was on the pitch and have seen it many times since, I still don't know how he saved that header from Pele'.
    Peter Shilton, who followed Banks as England number one and is his only competition as the country's greatest ever goalkeeper, tweeted: 'I'm devastated - today I've lost my hero our condolences to his family rip Gordon.'
    The England 1966 World Cup winner pictured with the team, closest to Bobby Moore and Roger Hunt, holding the Jules Rimet trophy after beating West Germany 4-2. He is now the fourth member of the team to pass away
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    The England 1966 World Cup winner pictured with the team, closest to Bobby Moore and Roger Hunt, holding the Jules Rimet trophy after beating West Germany 4-2. He is now the fourth member of the team to pass away
    In 1970 came the greatest save of all time against Pele, who shouted 'goal' when he headed it towards goal but could not beat Banks in the World Cup group stages in Mexico
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    In 1970 came the greatest save of all time against Pele, who shouted 'goal' when he headed it towards goal but could not beat Banks in the World Cup group stages in Mexico
    Pictured with wife Ursula in 2002, Banks lost battle with cancer after battling in recent years
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    Gordon Banks and his wife Ursula Banks at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in 2016
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    Pictured with wife Ursula in 2002, left, and 2016 at Wimbledon, right, Banks lost battle with cancer after fighting the disease since at least 2015
    David Beckham led the tributes to England's greatest goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was a hero to millions
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    David Beckham led the tributes to England's greatest goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was a hero to millions
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    Gordon Banks with his wife Ursula And two of their three children Robert, then 12, and Wendy, then seven at Buckingham Palace when he received his OBE in 1970
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    Gordon Banks with his wife Ursula and son Robert in 1959. He is also pictured with two of their three children Robert, then 12, and Wendy, then seven at Buckingham Palace when he received his OBE in 1970
    The great and good of English football have paid tribute to Mr Banks, including his 1966 World Cup teammate Sir Geoff Hurst
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    The great and good of English football have paid tribute to Mr Banks, including his 1966 World Cup teammate Sir Geoff Hurst  
  • The Germany football team's Twitter account posted an image of Banks embracing opposition players on the Wembley pitch in 1966.
    'A fierce opponent and a good man. Rest in peace, Gordon Banks,' they tweeted.
    Presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: 'Oh no. Gordon Banks, an absolute hero of mine, and countless others, has died. @England's World Cup winner was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and such a lovely, lovely man. #RIPGordon'
    Current England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling tweeted: 'Of course there was THAT save, but its so much more we are mourning today. RIP Gordon Banks. @England legend, your legacy will live on. All my thoughts with the family.'
    Banks made 510 league appearances for Chesterfield, Leicester and Stoke and won 73 senior international caps. He was one of the stars of England's 1966 World Cup triumph against West Germany.
    He will always be remembered for a remarkable save he made to deny Brazil superstar Pele four years later in Mexico.
    Banks lost the sight in his right eye after being injured in a road accident in 1972 and retired at the age of 34 as a result.
    Another former England number one, Ray Clemence, posted on Twitter: 'This is such sad news someone I looked up to and a great mentor. I had the honour of training with him in his last couple of years with England. Definitely England's greatest goalkeeper and will be sadly missed, wonderful man. Thoughts are with family and friends #RIP'
    Leicester City, for whom Banks played for much of the 1960s, tweeted: 'Leicester City Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our former goalkeeper Gordon Banks OBE, who has passed away at the age of 81.'
    Leicester City and England defender Harry Maguire wrote on Twitter: 'A World Cup winner, a legend. RIP Gordon Banks.' 
    Jamie Vardy tweeted an image of Banks' famous save against Brazil, with the words: 'Legend..... RIP Gordon Banks.' 
    Ex-England striker Michael Owen tweeted: 'Sad to hear that Gordon Banks has passed away at the age of 81. Had the pleasure of meeting him a number of times and he was one of the game's true gentlemen, not to mention one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Rest In Peace.'
    Former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel tweeted: 'So sad to hear that Gordon Banks one of my heroes and a true legend in life and football, has passed away. An inspiration, a winner and a true gentleman. My thoughts are with his family and friends. #RIPGordonBanks'.
    Chesterfield FC, where Banks began his career in the late 1950s, tweeted: 'The sad news reaches us that legendary former Spireite Gordon Banks has passed away. Gordon, who started his career at Chesterfield, was of course part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team. Our thoughts are with Gordon's family and friends.'
    His status as an all-time great may have been sealed at the 1966 World Cup, but it was the save Gordon Banks produced to deny Pele four years later which became his defining moment on the international stage.
    The goalkeeper's spectacular stop in a group-stage clash with Brazil during England's defence of the trophy in Mexico is widely regarded as one of the greatest saves of all time.
    Banks, who has died at the age of 81, flung himself to his right and, in a feat which seemed to defy the laws of physics, somehow managed with one hand not only to keep Pele's powerful downward header out, but also flick the ball over the bar.